Designmuseum Denmark

Designmuseum Denmark is uniquely located in the historical center of Copenhagen, in the Frederiksstaden district, which is considered one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe. The project opens up the arrival area of the museum and creates an inviting setting for the museum and its surroundings. The project comprises of three elements: renovation of the front plaza and entrance gate, new outdoor display cases and transformation of the adjacent annex with café, ticket office and museum shop. Altogether, these three simple levers create an interconnecting whole, which captures the city and creates an outdoor meeting place where visitors and passers-by have the opportunity to experience and explore design – even before they enter the museum.

The new plaza in front of the museum’s 18th-century building creates a meeting place and a showcase for Danish design. The project improves the accessibility of the museum while the sculpture gate and protected pavement is renovated. The exhibition platform creates an openness between the museum and its surroundings, thus giving the public a taste of the museum’s treasury - even before they enter.

Danish architect Kaare Klint redesigned the original hospital building into the museum we know today, including its entire inventory and a selection of iconic display cases exhibiting the museum’s exemplary design collection. Inspired by these display cases, a new selection of outdoor display cases brings the museum outside.

The old annex is completely transformed and opened with arched double doors that follow the original recess in the masonry. In the spirit of the place, all elements of the forecourt are of high quality both in design and materials and respect historical features from the original plans from the 1750s.

The cafe interior ties together the materiality of the ticket office and the outdoor space. Brass and hot rolled steel are used to create an atmospheric and dark space with contrasting huge doors and windows to let in daylight. The walls are painted in a special linseed oil based paint in the colour “Museum blue” specifically developed for this project.

A new entrance to the museum is established through the annex providing wheelchair access to the ticket office. This creates a new flow for the guests and creates an unforced exposure to the museum shop located in the grand arched space that used to be a pharmacy. The hot rolled steel plates used for the shelves and lighting rail in the shop reference the blackened steel found on the original balustrade of the space.